A Chilliwack kid travelled to New York in late May to represent Washington State at the U-S National Lacrosse Tournament.
Ashley Heisler was given permission to try out for Snohomish High School in late February, getting the green-light from the Washington State School Girls Association.
Heisler made the team and played for the Panthers in the Washington State Girls Lacrosse League.
She made three trips a week — a two-and-a-half hour drive each way — to the Seattle-area school for games and practices.
“I was extremely grateful to be given the opportunity to play for Snohomish High School,” Heisler said. “There are 32 schools that have varsity and junior varsity programs in the Seattle area, so the level of play was quite high and very competitive.”
Coached by former University of Georgia lacrosse star Katie Carroll, the Panthers went 8-4-1 and advanced to the All-North conference finals.
At season’s end, Heisler was named to the All-North conference all-star team, voted in as a midfielder by the league’s coaches.
“Playing for Coach Carroll allowed me to learn many new offensive plays, and she greatly helped me with my foot speed and positioning on defense,” Heisler added.
Heisler joined Washington State’s best for the U-19 nationals in Stony Brook NY, impressing coaches at a state-wide tryout held Apr. 22 at Lakeside School in Seattle.
The team played three games from May 24-27, going 0-3 in the Mohawk division B pool.
“The tournament was an opportunity to play against East Coast teams,” Heisler said. “The East Coast style of play is a much more physical, with very fast transitions and a more open ‘run and gun’ style of play, which I really like.
While in New York, Heisler was able to take in a NCAA division one playoff games between Syracuse and Florida and Maryland and Northwestern.
Heisler plays locally with the U-19 Langley Lightning field lacrosse team and attends Sardis secondary school.